College of the Canyons vs Santa Barbara City College

SANTA CLARITA, Calif. – The College of the Canyons Cougars (2-1, 1-0 WSC) combined four quarters of scoring and a defense that held the Santa Barbara City College Vaqueros (1-2, 0-1) to 307 yards, to post a 51-24 win, in the first Western State Conference game of the season for both teams. The win is the eighth straight victory over the Vaqueros since 1998.

The Cougars gathered 494 yards in total offense, the most this season, in the highest scoring and largest margin of victory for the team this year. Quarterback Andrew Miramontes accounted for 74 percent of the yardage as he went 19-of-28 for 367 yards and four touchdowns, marking his best performance yet.

The Cougars fell behind quickly as Santa Barbara made the first strike on a 62-yard, six-play touchdown drive that put the Vaqueros up 7-0 after three minutes ran off the game clock.

It would not be long before COC ran in for its own score as Raphael Reynolds returned the ensuing kickoff 83 yards for a touchdown, making him the fifth Cougar since 1998 to record a kickoff return.

After startling Santa Barbara, COC's defense stepped up on the next Vaquero drive when linebacker Job Lujan picked off his first pass of the year at the Santa Barbara 35-yard line and returned it to 14 yards to the 21-yard line. The interception translated into another Cougar score as Miramontes carried the ball five yards at the 10:35 mark. The extra point from kicker Paul Weinstein was good and Canyons went up 14-7.

Canyons ended the quarter with another pick. This time defensive back Tyler Roby grabbed a SBCC's pass at the Santa Barbara 34-yard line and returned it for a touchdown with 45 seconds left in the first and put the Cougars up 20-7.

Reynolds got back into the scoring action in the second half for his second look in the end zone with a 61-yard touchdown reception from Miramontes with 8:49 left in the half.

As the Cougars went up 27-7, Santa Barbara scored on a quick four-play drive that put the Vaqueros on the board again and closed in on Canyons lead, 27-14, with 6:37 left.

College of the Canyons did not let the 13-point lead stay for long, as Miramontes hooked up with wide receiver Hayo Carpenter for a 60-yard touchdown pass that pushed the score to 34-14 with a 6:20 left in the second quarter.

Santa Barbara scored one more time before the end of the half, leaving the halftime score at 34-21.

COC opened the second half with a 78-yard, 14 play touchdown drive that took 5:52 off the clock. Sophomore wide receiver Jovonne Augustus caught his first touchdown pass of the night, a 10-yard reception from Miramontes. The extra point from Weinstein was good and COC was up 41-21.

Santa Barbara was not able to get in the end zone in the third quarter, but did post a 28-yard field goal to score the Vaqueros last points of the game.

At the 5:56 mark of the fourth, the Cougars scored their last touchdown of the game. Miramontes found Augustus again for a 34-yard touchdown reception after the first snap. The lead extended to 48-24 in favor of Canyons.

Weinstein added three more points with 1:33 left in the game, on a 37-yard field goal, leaving the score at 51-24.

The win over Santa Barbara boosts the Cougars' record to 9-1 in conference openers.

Reynolds led the team in yardage, as he racked up 245 yards. The sophomore running back recorded two receptions for 105 yards and one touchdown, nine carries for 60 yards and two kickoff returns for 80 yards and one touchdown.  Augustus had six receptions for 97 yards and two touchdowns along with Carpenter who also had six for 86 yards and one touchdown.

The defense was led by defensive back Anthony Luna who tallied 12 tackles (six solo), linebacker Matt Brown who had eight tackles (three solo) and one for a loss of five yards and defensive back Robbie Cassleberry who posted seven tackles (six solo). Freshman linebacker Eric Wells recorded two sacks for a loss of 16 yards.

The Cougars return to action on Saturday, Sept. 22 as they travel to L.A. Southwest for a 1 p.m. kickoff.